EXPERIENCE... NATURE

Top Ten Natural Features in Stony Valley & Surrounds
No. 9 - Sand Spring(s)


Many are familiar with the Sand Spring along the Stony Valley Rail-Trail, but don’t realize this is just one of at least a dozen sand springs in Stony Valley and neighboring Clarks Valley. Sand springs are a natural phenomenon, and in the case of Stony Valley’s famed Sand Spring (top), as local legend has it, even familiar with Native Americans who once used the spring as a campsite, although there has been no period artifacts recovered from its vicinity. Stony Valley’s Sand Spring, today, is part of the headwaters of the Evening Branch of Fishing Creek, which eventually empties into the Evening Branch Beaver Swamp before finishing its course in Siegrist Reservoir (drinking water for the City of Lebanon).

Clarks Valley’s “famed” Sand Spring (bottom); however, has a different story. At one point during its life, likely during the 19th century, its sandy waters were walled in, perhaps to be used by neighboring lumber camps. Its sandy waters gave name to Sand Spring Trail, along which, it can still be found today.

Sand springs also existed at Cold Spring and White Spring in Stony Valley, the latter of which was named for its sandy bottom.


DIRECTIONS: To visit Sand Spring, Stony Valley, park at the Western Rail-Trail Parking Lot on Gold Mine and continue west towards Dauphin, 1.3 miles. Sand Spring is on your left. Use State Game Lands #211 Map 3 of 3

To visit Sand Spring, Clarks Valley, park at the Sand Spring Trailhead Pulloff on Route 325 (17.7 miles from the Route 225/325 intersection with a parking area containing blue blazes and blue A's on trees) and continue south on Sand Spring Trail (salmon color-blazed). Cross Clarks Creek on an unbridged stream crossing, spring is on the righthand side. Use State Game Lands #211 Map 2 of 3


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